WPS Cross-Workbook Reference on macOS FAQ

Last updated:July 16, 2026

When you use WPS Cross-Workbook Reference, common questions usually involve file access, supported file types, data refresh, and reference stability; this FAQ includes 4 common questions and a glossary.

FAQ

What should I do if the referenced file cannot be found?

  1. Confirm that the target file has not been deleted, moved, or renamed.
  2. Confirm that your current account has permission to access the cloud document, team document, or local file.
  3. Open the Cross-Workbook Reference entry again and select the correct file location.

Can Cross-Workbook Reference use non-spreadsheet files?

  1. Cross-Workbook Reference is only for spreadsheet files that support data reading.
  2. Use common spreadsheet formats such as .xlsx and .csv when possible.
  3. Text documents, presentation files, and other non-spreadsheet formats cannot be used as reference sources for this feature.

Why are my reference results not updating automatically?

  1. First confirm that the data in the source file has been saved.
  2. Open the Cross-Workbook Reference menu from the Formulas tab.
  3. Select Update References to refresh the results in the current workbook manually.
  4. For local file references, open the source file first if needed and then refresh again.

What can cause a reference relationship to stop working?

  1. If the source file is deleted or moved, the original reference relationship may break.
  2. A newly created but unsaved cloud document cannot be referenced by another file.
  3. Files in team documents also need the correct access permissions to create or keep a valid reference.

Glossary

TermDefinition
Cross-Workbook ReferenceA formula-based method that references cells or ranges from another spreadsheet file in the current workbook.
Reference rangeThe target cell or cell range that the current formula reads from.
Source fileThe spreadsheet file that provides the referenced data.
Update ReferencesA refresh action that syncs the current workbook with the latest data from the source file.